Google’s Android updates tend to be impressive, feature-rich affairs. Given that Lollipop will also mark a complete break from Android 4.x JellyBean/KitKat, it is certain to be even more impressive than normal. So, what features does the new release have in store for its lucky users?

Not only will the device switch to a power-saving mode when the available battery level drops below 15 percent (thus giving you an extra ninety minutes of usage), but developers can take advantage of Android Runtime (ART), which is what Google uses to convert developer code into a functioning app.

Screen Pinning

One of the biggest etiquette faux pas of mobile phone usage is browsing through other people’s photos, messages and apps without the owner’s permission. Everyone knows it shouldn’t be done, but sometimes the urge to start swiping after borrowing a friend’s phone to make a call is just too great.

Screen pinning finally puts an end to the problem. It enables you to pin a single app into the foreground of the phone’s screen, meaning whoever is borrowing your phone cannot get overly curious and start looking at your holiday snaps after using it to order a takeaway.

It works by removing the functionality of the home and recent apps buttons so the user can only interact with the app on the screen. To exit a pinned screen, you’ll need to press recent and back at the same time, then enter the PIN code.

This feature also has parental control benefits — for example, parents can give the phone to their kids to play a game without the worry that the child will call someone or delete something accidentally.

Whatever the reason, it’s not been possible on phones until Lollipop. With the release of Android 5.0, however, you’ll not only be able to add multiple user accounts, but also guest and temporary accounts. Aside from practical benefits such as those listed above, it also has security benefits — no more worrying about configurations being changed, data being deleted, or personal emails being viewed.

There are three types of accounts that you’ll be able to set up on Lollipop. Firstly there is the standard user account, which has full access to settings and apps and is identical to how you use your Android 4.x device. Secondly, there is the guest account. A guest/temporary account uses sessions, and when the session ends no data is recorded or saved. Thirdly, there is the profile account. This account lets the main user determine how the device is used — for example, disabling certain apps or restricting phone calls.

Smart Lock

We’ve all done it and been frustrated by it — you’re in the middle of using your phone to write a text or surf the Internet when you get briefly distracted by something else. By the time your attention returns to your phone it has locked itself, meaning you need to re-enter your pin code to get back to what you were doing. When done once it’s okay, when done several times per day it gets annoying.

Lollipop addresses these annoyances with Smart Lock. Smart Lock will allow Bluetooth enabled devices to unlock your device when they are within signal. In practice, this means if you’re at home and your partner’s phone is nearby, your Android 5.0 device will not lock itself, saving your time and frustration. The feature will also work with Chromebooks or desktops that are running Chrome OS.

In practice, this means that instead of seeing an incoming call or text message take over your entire screen, you will instead see a small bar pop up at the top of the screen that gives you the choice of either ignoring or responding to the event.

Finally, there is a new “Interruptions” feature. It allows you to decide which apps you want to let interrupt you, and which you don’t care about. It means there will be no more games that continually pester you with spam notifications and thus helps ensure the important stuff doesn’t slip through unnoticed.

Multitasking

Multitasking has become more streamlined with the Chrome experience. It is now more akin to looking at all the open tabs when using Chrome on a mobile device rather than the traditional scrollable list of recent apps.

Not only does this mean you can switch apps faster, it also means you can see multiple tasks within individual apps. For instance, in Gmail, if you’re drafting a new email as well as checking your inbox, you will see two separate Gmail tabs displayed — one for each separate task.

HTC One — confirmed, within 90 days of receiving the Android Lollipop source code

HTC One M7 — confirmed, within 90 days of receiving the Android Lollipop source code

HTC One M8 — confirmed, within 90 days of receiving the Android Lollipop source code

Samsung

Samsung has not yet formally announced its release schedule, but leaks suggest the Galaxy S5 is expected to get Android 5.0 Lollipop in December and the Galaxy S4 will reportedly receive the update in early 2015. They also recently hinted in a tweet that Lollipop would be available on its new flagship Galaxy Note 4 phablet.

Sony

Sony has committed to offering Lollipop on its Xperia Z range and has already shown off an early development version of the new OS running on the Z1, Z2 and Z3. There are no official release dates in place.

LG

LG G3 — confirmed, late November or early December

What Is Your Favorite New Feature?

Android 5.0 Lollipop packs a lot of goodies, but which is your favorite? Will you be picking up a new device or waiting for the update to hit yours? Let us know in the comments!

I have a Motorola Droid Ultra and I have not had the update. I thought my phone was supposed to be one of the first to get it and surely before Nexus. And, still nothing. Why advertise that my phone will have if its not going to deliver? So I guess Droid Ultra is not on the upgrade list after all or what?

Lollipop is good in some ways and bad in some others.
What I want to say is about SamsungApps which is full of outdated apps and there seem not to be updates for the apps any time soon.

Even such expensive apps as the Merriam-Webster's 3rd Unabridged International Dictionary which are important for academics have lagged behind by at least 3 updates.

Maybe this is true only for a number of regions but it's very disappointing anyways. They update the OS any time there's a new version; that's cool but I have paid for many apps there, and it's my right to have access to the updates.

Clearly you didn't do any market research before parting with your $700 - a cursory inspection of various android forums would show that Samsung have always been one of the slowest companies to introduce new plaforms for older devices. Even though I only bought my Note 3 9 months ago, it is now an old device in their eyes. However annoying it is I think their is some method in their madness - Samsung interface is heavily customised for each new phone and I think they want to be sure that any new OS can still deliver a fast performance because the last thing they want is customer service calls on devices that they sold a year ago. This is why so many people root samsung devices - they like the hardware but not the bloated software.

I can't wait for lollipop. I have a nexus5 and just love it. I am betting with nthe lollipop upgrade I wil keep my nexus5 for a couple of more years seeing that it is already plenty fast and the 5" screen is a perfect size.

Hopefully the update will be available for my Sony Xperia M2, looks like a slick UI. Kit kat is good, due to its compatibility with most apps on the play store, but with a bit of luck android 5 will be even more versatile.

Ok thanks for the info. I hope it runs smooth on my Nexus 7's 2012. I'm hearing a few negative responses on Material Design mainly about colors and it's generic layout. However I like it and I actually think simplicity along with the flat design is better for productive users, forget all that fancy, 3D stuff that disrupts your visual perception. But... since I'm a developer myself, I think the Android team should enable customization of the color schemes, shades and shadows, if it's based on CSS it should be easy to integrate this feature. That way those customers that don't like the flat colors, can spice it up to the way like it.

I really don't like how sparsely information is presented in the updated UI. I'm looking forward to user accounts, but overall I think this is a real step back. Hopefully I'll see a modded skin that at least makes better use of the pixel density on my devices.

Whilst I am always grateful for updates, I fail to see how any of these new features, apart from battery saving, will benefit me.
Of course, I don't speak for other users, but are things like Screen Pinning or even Multiple Accounts in such high demand?

I'm not against change - I actively encourage it, but some of these things just seem gimmicky at best and possibly very annoying at worst.

Either way, my Nexus 4 is two years old, still looks and acts as brilliantly as it did two years ago (not a scratch on it) and, hopefully, will be just a fantastic with the new update.. . . on the 10th!?!?!?
cool!

Lots to be excited about here. I'm looking forward to the streamlining of Notifications, in particular, as I think it will have the biggest impact on my day-to-day experience of using my device. The other features are cool, and I might use them from time to time, but I can't say I've been really needing them.

It has been announced that the LG G3 will be the first to get Android 5.0. So, much for Nexus devices getting it first. Are you sure it will be November 10? Some are reporting Nov. 12. Notice that the developer boot image was last updated on Wed, Nov. 5, not Mon. Nov 3 https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

Dan is a British expat living in Mexico. He is currently the Social Editor for MakeUseOf. He was formerly the Creative Editor and Finance Editor. Prior to his writing career, he was a Financial Consultant. He holds various certifications from the University of Leeds, the University of Cambridge, and the…